Don’t Download Doubtful Content via Bogus Cisco WebEx Installers

How to Remove Cisco WebEx virus

Cisco WebEx virus is basically a standard name that is given to the PUPs and malicious software that gets distributed as “Cisco WebEx products”. You should know that “Cisco WebEx” is a legitimate company whose video conferencing software and web conferencing products are very popular. Notably, its products such as WebEx Meetings, Event Center, Training Center, MeetMeNow, etc. are very popular and helpful.

As you know that due to the recent “Coronavirus/Covid-19 virus pendemic, the demand of this kind of video conferencing products has increased rapidly. On the other hand, the cyber-criminals have started abusing Cisco WebEx products and are taking illegal advantage of it. The cyber-criminals are promoting their harmful products and other enticing offers as Cisco WebEx applications.

 The legitimate Cisco WebEx service has no connection with this kind of frauds and services. We have seen in the past that cyber offenders user the name of legitimate and popular companies to promote their malicious products and software. For instance, you are offered with fake installers that downloads hidden files (in this case, it is Cisco WebEx virus) along with the main program. This kind of bogus “Cisco WebEx” installer setup triggers “InstallCore Installer” which is a PUP in reality. Apart from installing severe adware and PUPs, this kind of illegitimate installer downloads severe Trojan infection that creates chain infection.

The fake installers and its setup are generally promoted on unsafe sponsored websites. These spam webpage looks like a replica of official webpage or any other trusted third-party domains. Since these are spam websites hence they are also involved in data-stealing and other illegal activities. They trick you to reveal your personal confidential information including bank account details, credit and debit card information, name, address, email, telephone number and so on. The untrusted download channels especially the peer-to-peer file sharing networks, free hosting domains etc. use to proliferate fake installers and downloaders secretly. It is strongly advised to download any type of application only from its official channels and download sources. If you notice any kind of doubtful applications or bogus programs such as Cisco WebEx virus then you should immediately scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool that has strong scanning algorithm and programming logics.

A Quick Glance

Name: Cisco WebEx virus or Malware

Type: Bogus Application replicating the name of genuine software, Trojan, Password Stealing

Process: 185.12.29.38_yjqf_webex.exe (the name may vary)

Symptoms: It normally remains silent and does all the suspicious activities in the background

Damage: Leads to identity theft, steals data related to bank account, connects the PC with a remote sever and allows third-party to access remotely

Distribution: Though bogus installers and downloaders, shared networks, social engineering and so on

Removal: It is recommended to scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool having strong scanning algorithm and programming logics

How Cisco WebEx virus Get Inside the PC?

The associated cyber-criminals normally use bogus Cisco WebEx installers to install this malware. They are promoted on various download channels especially on the shared networks such as eMule, Torrents and so on. Use of cracking tools, illegal software updates or downloads, spam campaigns, etc. often leads to PUPs download in the backdoor. Trojans are used that could infect the PC with multiple infection at same time. Spam email campaigns are used and the targeted victim receives tons of spam emails in the inbox and they have harmful attachments with them.

It is very important to be careful regarding anything you download and do on your work-station. Download any program from their trusted and legitimate source only. Don’t use any third-party updater or installer or any kind of illegal activation tool. Upgrade the overall security settings and use a powerful anti-malware tool to get complete protection.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Cisco WebEx virus:

Remove the related items of Cisco WebEx virus using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Cisco WebEx virus issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Cisco WebEx virus) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Cisco WebEx virus removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Cisco WebEx virus still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Cisco WebEx virus plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Cisco WebEx virus removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Cisco WebEx virus (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.